Sexy docs and busty blondes’. Press coverage of professional misconduct cases brought before the General Medical Council

H. Bradby, Jonathan Gabe, M. Bury

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    This paper presents an analysis of press coverage of the General Medical Council Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) during 1990 and 1991. All tabloid press coverage during this period was compared with PCC minutes to establish what kinds of cases were reported. The analysis reveals that the press gave undue attention to hearings involving sexual misconduct by General Practitioners and that the majority of patients reported as suffering from such misconduct were young women. The paper goes on to document the ideological assumptions underpinning this coverage and considers the consequences for the doctor-patient relationship.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)458-476
    Number of pages18
    JournalSociology of Health and Illness
    Volume17
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1995

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